Self-starter for internal-combustion engines.



A. WINTQN & H. B. ANDERSON. SELF STARTEN FON INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED DEO.17,1913. 4

Patented Nov. 17, 1914.

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.4% y l Maw/@9% A. WINTON & H. B. ANDERSON. SELE STARTER EOE lNTEENAL GOMEUSTION ENGINES.

dPLIGATHH` FILED DEC.17,1913. 1,1 17,739 Patented NOV.17,1914.

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A..WINTON & H. B. ANDERSON. SELF STARTER POB INTERNAL GOMBUSTION ENGINES.

APPLIOMION FILED Dg'o. 17, 191s. ,l 17,739. Patented NW1?, 1914.

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A. WINTON & H. B. ANDERSON. SELF STARTEN PoR INTERNAL GOMBUSTION ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED DBO.17,1913- 1,1 17,739. Patented Nov. 17, 1914.

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ALJIXANDER h/VINTON AND HAROLD B. ANDERSON, F CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNORS TO THE WINTON MOTOR CARRIAGE C.TNIIPAN.7 OF CLEVELAND. OHIO.

Specicaton of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 17,1914.

Application filed December 17, 1913. Serial No. 807.286.

To all rwhom t may concern Be it known that we, ALEXANDER WINToN and HAROLD B. ANDERSON, citizens or' the United States,residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Self-Starters for Internal(.'ombus tion Engines, ot' which the following is a. specification, refercncebeing had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to improvements in self starters for internal combustion engines and appertains to a self starter in which air under compression is utilized to initially turn the engine over until it picks up under its'own power.

The particular kind of self starter here disclosed is one in which the means 'for fur` nishing the air under pressure is operated by the engine and stored in av tank, from which it is released under pressure and admitted to suitable means for giving the. en-

gine a starting movement to enable,V it tov pick up under its oWn explosive power.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide means for putting into operation the air compressing mechanism simultaneously or substantially simultaneously with the imparting to the engine of the starting movements through the releasiupT ot' the compressed air from the storage tank, whereby all damage to any part of the compressing mechanism the connecting mechanism or the engine is avoided, which is liable to happen to either one or both of .-aid mechanisms if the compressing device is thrown into operation after the engine is running under its own power and therefore at a high speed relative to its starting speed.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an automatic mechanism for holding the compressing mechanism in operative connection with the engine afterset in motion until the tank is charged-'to a predetermined pressure and to be then vautomatically throwfout of operative connection with the engine.

A. further object of the present invention is to cause the simultaneous or substantially simultaneous connection of the compressing mechanism with the engine during its starting; movement and to automatically hold the --onipressing mechanism in operation until the desired predetermined pressure is stored engine a starting movement.

m the storage tank and then tht` compress my.' mechanism automaticallj.' thrown out of operation with the engine, wherehv all inyurjv to the parts is avoided when they are thrown into operative relation and overstorage ot' pressure in the tank and thereby inuirvto the tank or the system preventeil. l .l further object otl the present invention 1. to provide means whereby a single manual movement will cause the release of the stored pressure from the tank to the means for turning' over the engine and the coupling' up of the air compressimT device with the engine; the said compressing' device heineT automatically held in operation until the proper pressure is stored and then automatically thrown out of operation with the engine, thus requiring only a single movement of the operator to start the engine, the maintenance of the proper storage in the tank being taken care of automatically and without any attention on the part of the operator.

'lefevrring now to the accompanying drawings: AFigure l is a side elevation showing diaarannnaticallv the parts embodying the invention.y the automatic feature being shown in section in said diagrammatic illustration; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the manually operated valve forreleasingr the compressed air from the tank into the starting mechanism; Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of the clutch or connecting device between the engine and the compressor and the automatic .device for holdine' the clutch in and out of operative relation to the compressor, the parts being' shown in released positions; Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but showing the clutch and the automatic parts in position to operatively connect the engine and the coinpressor; Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view, partially in section, similar to Fig. l, but showing a slightly modified'co-nstruction: Fifi. is an enlarged perspective view showin;r the foot operated bell cranltlever in this modified construction; Fig. 7 is a side ele ration showing diagrammatically the parts comprising this invention. the automatic feature beine shown in section, and a modiication' in the means for imparting to the Figs. S. 9 and 10 are detailed views of the distributing' valve nsedin Figs. vland 2- Referring now to the drawings in which i' is preferablyv so located Where (in the construction' shown 1n 'gine as here shown,

like reference numerals indicate the same parts in the several views 1' is an engine Which' is here shown as 'of the `six cylinder type. 2 is a suitable air compressor, preterably located at the lfront end of the e11- though the location off this' device in respect to the engine is not essential to the invention, but the position shown is considered the most convenient for coupling it up .with the engine. A suitable clutch 3 is located between the compressor 2A and a vshaft 4 that is voperatively connected with the engine. -Preferably this shaft 4 is the cam shaft of the engine though it may be any 'i other suitable movable member 'or shaft operatively connected with thecngine. The type of clutch hereA shown as illustratedv in Figs. 3 and 4 is of the positive type, although the type of clutch also is'not essential to the embodiment of the inventive idea.

This clutch as here .illustrated comprises a -movable memberv 5 which is keyed to but slidably on the shaft 4 and is providedvvith a tongue 6 adapted to enter a groove 7 on the cooperating clutch member operatively connected with thel compressor 2. I

A; suitable storage tank 7 is provided and in respect to the car body vthat it is'not visible, location of the tank is not essential to the present invention. Pipes 48 and 10 connect vthe compressor 2 with the tank. 7 and the pipe 8 is an inlet pipe to the tank 7 and outlet pipe 10 Vis connected lwith the tank and this'pipe extends up to a suitable piint 1g. 1), the'operative member erste-m 11 ofa manuallyoperated ieleas'ingvalve 12 Will extend through the dash 13 ofthe car, Where 4 0 or the foot against a suitable head 14.

' valve is shown'enlargedj and it can be pushed outwardby either the hand The type oi'manuallyoperated releasing in section in by a;'suitable spring-15- and is unseated .by a pressure` against the head or member 14.

As shown the valve. is locatedin a suitable valvecasing 15 to -which the inlet. pipeflO is connected at one side of the valve 12 and tov which an outlet ipe 16 is connected at the oppo'sitelside o the yvalve '12; f A'dis tibuting valve cas1ng17 is 'operatively conspending Wit nected wvith the engine and Withthelva'lve shaft, and the valve (not shown) is pro! vid ed"`witli a vlurality the six cylinders and :is adapted to alternately register' with the that connect with the respective cylinders, andthis communication is made with the said `p ipes 18 of the respective cylinders in theirgfiring order vand during the explosion stroke. 'In thisway when the re-. leasing valve 12'isopened the compressed l air -orv other analogous compressed fluid is' starting movement.

although the therefore rotating vthe compressor with the engine at the time therefore injur mechanism of open1ngscorrereleased fromv` the tank in the'form `here shown, it enters directlythe cylinders of the engine and in this way the pistons are directly caused to give the engine its' initial 'It is preferred to have theair act directly on the engine as here shoWn,-rather than through aseparate air actuating mechanism, though the present invention is notlimi'ted to any particular air actuated devices for impartingl to the engine the initial starting movement, since the invention isv applicable to other methods of utilizing the compressed air for imparting` the initial movements to the engine.

Returning now to the mechanism for connecting the compressor 2-with the engine, a

rod 19 carries at its forward end a yoke 2O that engages the slidable clutch member 5 to move it in and, out of operative connection with thecompressor and the opposite end olf the rod 19 carries a piston'21 which is lo cated Withinv a cylinder 22 andn a pipe 23 connects the opposite end of the cylinder with the pipe 16 so thatvwhen air is 'released' by the valve 12 it enters the cylinder 22 at the same time it enters the distributing valve casing 17 and forces the rodv 19 forward,

carrying the clutch member 5 .into engagel ment with thexclutch member -Vof the conv presser 2, thus connecting the engine and the compressor. It Will thus be seenl that the adrmssion of air to the Astarting mechanism of the enginesimultaneously or substantially simultaneously admits air to the cylinder-22.

and connects the compressor with the engine While the engine is being rotated through the medium of the compressed air and slowly. Byl

clutch 'connects the compresso-r with the "engine and the compressor is Workingand `When the engine starts storing the tank 7.-

the manually operated under its own power member 14 is released andthe valve 12 closed, thus cutting off theair communication between the tank 7 and the cylinder 22.v

To prevent the clutch from being'released when the valve 12 is closed, We provide/a that automatically lholds it in operative relation lto the 'pressure' inthe 'tank 7 has reached `the desired and predetermined degree.l This mechanism inthe form here sho-wn as one of the ,expressions of the inventive idea comprises a toggle lever device having two toggle arms 24 and 25. Ihese togglelevers have their inner ends pivotally connected'at 2G, while the outer end of `the lever 24 is pivotally connected at l25 to a vcasting or connecting' lio the compressor until casing of the cylinder :22 and the outer end of the toggle lever 25 is pivotally connected at E26 to one end of an arm 27, the other end of the arm being tirmly connected to the rod or stem 19 of the piston 21.

A cylinder 23 is located adjacent the cylinder 22 and is preferably formed in the same casting with the last mentioned cylinder. Located within this cylinder Q8 is a piston :29 and this piston carries at its outer end a valve 30 which controls an inlet opening 3l to the said cylinder'. This inlet opening 31 is in communication with the tank T v through the medium of a pipe A suit able spring 33 normally holds the piston Q9 in position so that the valve 30 closes the inlet opening 3l and the tension of this spring 33 is regulated by an adjustable screw member 34 by means of which the spring can be compressed or released. In this way the valve 30 becomes a safety or pop valve which open when the pressure in the tank 7 has reached the pressure determined by the tension of the spring 33. l/Vhen the valve 30 is unseated by this pressure air is admitted to the cylinder 28 and the piston is moved backward in the cylinder 2S against the tension of the spring. The backward movement of the piston 29 causes its cone-shaped portion 35 to engage an adjustable screw 36 carried by the toggle arm 24: and move the toggle arm upward and the pivotal point 2G above a horizontal line between the points 25 and Q6, and the toggle arms will then assume the position shown in Fig. 3. lV ith the toggle arms in the position shown in Fiom l the axis or the pivotal point 28 is slightly below a horizontal line between the axes of the pivotal points E25 and 26 and in this position the rod 19 and the clutch 5 are held in position to operatively connect the compressor Q and the engine l. An adjustable screw 37 serves to regulate the limit of downward movement of the toggle arms and a weight 3S serves to assist in moving them downward when the piston 21 and the rod 19 are moved out-ward by the pressure from the tank 7 as before described.

rl"he parts of the mechanism are normally in the positions shown in Fig. 3, that is, with the clutch out of operative connection with the compressor Q and the toggle arms in their upward position. By opening the valve 12 through manual pressure on the member 14, air or other suitable press is admitted substantially simultaneously to the engine cylinders through the valve casing 17 and the distributing valve therein and to the cylinder 2Q. By reason of this fact the clutch 5 is moved into operative connection with the compressor substantially simultaneously with the movement of the engine by the movement .outward ot the piston 21 and its rod 19. As soon as the engine starts un- 'ton to the outer end of the ing of der its own power the valve 12 is closed by releasing the member ll, but the clutch is automatically held in operative connection with the compressor 2 by reason of the position of the toggle levers 2l and shown in Fig. 1, the outward movement of the piston 21 and rod 19 having caused these members to assume that position, and they remain in that position until the compressor 2 has created in the tank T the desired and predetermined pressure. lVhen this has been reached the pop or safety valve 30 is opened automatically by the pressure forcing the piston 29 inward and by its cone-shaped portion 35 and the engaging screw or member 3G of the toggle levers, kicks the toggle levers upward. At this time the valve 12 as stated is closed and there is a suction caused on the piston 21 through the pipes 18, 1G and 23 and this suction draws the piscylinder 22 Aa'nd will hold the toggle levers in the released position shown in Fig. 3. It desired, the return movement of the rod 19 and piston 21 may be assisted when the toggle levers are kicked upward as described, by means of a spring 39 located between a suitable stationary bushing elO and a collar -11 on the said rod, a collar 42 serving to limit the movement of the rod 19 either under the tension of the spring 39 or the suction action on the piston 21, or both. In this manner the parts are held in the position shown in Fig. 3 until the engine is again started. When the engine is .again started the operation just described will be repeated and the tank 7 will always be kept charged with the proper amount of pressure to insure the starting of the engine under the most severe conditions.

By means of this construction the starting of the engine automatically causes the chargthe tank 7 and therefore maintains the predetermined pressure in the tank automatically and always insuring the starting of the engine. It will beobserved that in this respect this mechanism in'its automatic action is similar to the electric starters now in use on the market and well known to those skilled in the art, in which electric starters the starting of the engine throws in the generator for charging the storage battery and this is true of the. system here described in that the starting of the engine automatically causes the charging of the tank to the predetermined pressure when the charging device is automatically kicked out of operation. The system herein described obviatcs the necessityY ofcarrying a heavy storage battery and the complicated electrical system which is very difficult to under stand and dillicult and usually impossible of repair by the ordinary operator and especially on the road, and these facts are well recognized by those who are acquainted with -in the system so the electrical starting systems. On the other hand, the system vhere disclosed is mechanical' matically thrown out, as before described.

.In the modification shown in Fig. 5 theoperation already described is reversed in 5 which dii'er from Fig. 2.

vconnectionl between lof the valve 12.` A second this, that 'a yfoot .treadle is provided throwing'in the clutch and simultaneously with the throwing in of the clutch the air is admitted from the storage tank to the Astarting system, vfthus accomplishing they simultaneous or substantially .simultaneous the engine and the compressor at the time the engine is started.- In all other respects the, operation of Fig. 5 is the. same as thatvdescribedof Figs. 1, 2 applied to Fig. 5 to the parts which are duplicates of those in. Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4. We will now describe those features of Fig.

f'foot actuated lever a'is provided within reach of the operator and as here shown this lever is of the bell crank ,type 'and carries a foot button or pedal b `at one end, the other to alink or rod c and l the'upper end of this 'link or;- rod c is yconnected with one end of a hell crank lever d.; the other end of the last, mentioned bell end being connected crank lever engaging a collar eon the stem is intermediately pivoted to a port gand oneendgof this bell crank lever is connectedto aa.,i 1ertical` slot e' through lwhich apin Z of the bell 'crank lever d'passes* The'other end --of vthe, bell crank l'evei` f is connected 'with'the rod 19 by a pin and slot connection 20.

The operation of 'this device is as follows: By pushing downward on the foot -cntton or pedal b the bell crank lever f, link 7L, the clutch. and the automatic fmechanism for holding the compresso 2 are* carried shown in Fig. 5, and atfthe same time the valve 12 is unseated and air is'admitted to the pressure 'starting mechanism in the same way-described n connection'with Fig. 1.4 As soon as the engine startsuthe foot button or treadle b is released and it', together with the valve 12 and the valve stem, returns to the position shown 1n Fig. 5 without dis- .this instance. the spring 3, and 4 and like reference :letters are,

bell crank lever f suitable sup-T linkrr rod It, the otherl 'end of the rod LVhaving the gear m oi the *clutch` inf operationfwith the'V into the positionv 115' thet air-engine is l spects the mechanism operates as to its autotermined degree the'locking toggle parts are kicked out of locking position as before, de-l scribed and the clutch is released and this will draw down on the link or rod L and place it in position in respect to the bell crank lever d for a repeated operation when it is desired to again start the engine. 1t will becbserved that in Fig. 5 the pipe 23 of Fig. 1 is omitted and the cylinder 22 and piston rod 21 may also be omitted Without aec'ting the operatiqlp of this modi'iied-orm, provided some otli' the end of the rod 419 -to which the arm 27 is connected for the purpose of' insuring the straight movement of the rod. The 'tunction of the cylinder 22v and piston` 21 in Fig. 5 is only toguide the rod 19 and in 39 serves to hold the clutch in the position' shown in Fig. 3 and therefore out of operative position.

We desire it to be understood that the 'construction's herein shown and described are onlyintended as mechanical expressions of the broad inventive idea and that they may j'. guide is furnished or length of time,and in this way there is no t .chance for leakage of pressure from the tank throughout the system. AWhen the mechamsm is' in normal operation, this valve B is fopen@ This valve B will be placed con venientlyto be operated throughthe vehicle dash. With-the parts in thev position'shown in Fig.' 7 the clutch-5 can be thrown 'to dis'- connect -the1pump2 before-the pre-detern mined pressure is -reached in the tank7 by closing the valve B, should have-the mechanism so operated. In this instance-theA umpl 2 will raise lthe pressure quickly to t ie maximum pressure necessary to cause' the valve 29 unseat .andbe forced end-wise andCauSel theto'ggle levers to move upward, in' the manner before described and disconnect thepump 2.4V In the arrangement shown in Fig. 7 an air `engine -A is used to give the engine 1 a startingv movement. gear wheelfn. of this air-engine meshes with engine wheel. Vh'en the air pressure is admitted to theengine `A through'thefpipe 1 (by opening the valve 4causedto operate' and in turn-operate the engine 1'. In all-other restructions herein shown.`

LetterslPate/nt is it be desired lto matic features the saine as inthe vother conrse .tion engines, comprising a. pressure producing device, a storage tank in communication producing device with the engine approXi-' mately simultaneously with the starting movement of the engine and means for disconnecting the pressure producing device lfrom the engine when a predetermined pressure is reached in the said storage tank.`

2. The combination With an internal co1nbustion engine, of a pressure producing device normally disconnected with the engine, a storage tank in communication with said device, a starting mechanism utilizing the pressure from the tank for imparting a starting movement to the engine, means operatively connecting the pressure producing device With the engine and the pressure of the tank With the starting mechanism approximately simultaneously` and means controlled by the pressure in the tank for disconnecting the pressure producing device from the engine.

3. The combination With an internal combustion engine, of a pressure producing device normally disconnected from the engine, a pressure storage tank in communication With said device, a starting mechanism for the engine utilizing the stored pressure of the tank for imparting a starting movement to the engine, means for connecting the pressure in the tank with the starting mechanism, and means controlled by the pressure in the tank for operatively connecting and disconnecting the pressure producing device tvith the engine.

4. T he combination With an internal combustion engine, of a pressure producing device normally disconnected ivith the engine. a pressure storage tank in communication With said device, a starting mechanism for the engine adapted to utilize the stored pressure of the tank for imparting a starting movement to the engine, manually operative means for connecting the pressure in the tank With the starting mechanism, and means controlled bv the pressure in the tank for connecting and disconnecting the pressure producing device with the engine.

5. The combination with an internal combustion engine, of a pressure producing device normally disconnected with the engine, a: pressure storage tank in communication with said device, a starting mechanism for the engine utilizing the stored pressure of the tank i or imparting a starting movement to the engine, mechanism operated by the pressure in the tank for connecting and disconnecting the pressure producing` device with the engine, a manually operated means adapted to connect the last Said mechanism with the pressure in the tank and the pressure in the tank with the -starting mechanism. y

6. The combination with an internal combustion engine. ct' a pressure producing device normally disconnected with the. engine, a pressureV storage tank in communication with said device, a starting mechanism adapted to utilize the pressure of the tank for imparting a starting movement to the engine, means operated by the pressure in the tank for connecting the pressure producing device with the engine, means controlled by the pressure in the tank and continuing the connection until the pre-determined pressure in the tank is obtained and the pressure then causing the release of the holding means and the disconnecting of the pressure device from the engine.

7. The combination with an internal cornbustion engine, of a pressure producing de-4 vice normally out of operative communication with the engine, a pressure storage tank in communication with said device, a starting mechanism adapted to utilize the stored pressure of the tank for imparting a starting movement to the engine, manually operated means for connecting the pressure in the tank with the starting mechanism means for connecting the pressure device with the engine and controlled by said manually operated means, a locking mechanism for-hold-4 ing the pressure producing device in operative connection with the engine, a pressure actuated device in connection with the tank and releasing the locking mechanism and disconnecting the pressure actuated device fromthe engine when the pressure in the tank has reached a pre-determined degree.

8. The combination with aninternal combustion engine, of a pressure producing device normally disconnected with the engine. a pressure storage tank in connection with the device, a starting mechanism adapted to utilize the pressure of the tank for impart! mg a starting movement to the engine. means actuated by the .pressure in the tank for connecting the pressure producing device to the engine and connecting the pre:- sure of thev tank with the startingT mechanisni` and a locking mechanism for the connecting device comprising toggle levers. and a pressure actuating the member in connection with the tank and through the said toggle levers to an unlocking position when the pressure in the tank has reached a pre-de termined degree.

, 9. The combination with an internal coinbustion enfin'ek of a ircssure reducing dcvice normally disconnected with the engine, a pressure storage tank in connection with said device, a starting mechanism adapted to utilize the pressure in the tank for imparting a starting movement to the engine, .means actuated by the pressure in the tank Ivice with the engine,

for connecting 'the pressure producing dea manually operated means adapted to connect the pressure in the tank with the connecting means and with the starting mechanism, a toggle lever.' con-4 nected with'the means for connecting the pressure producing device with the engine, a cylinderhaving connection with the tank, a valve in the cylinder yieldingly holding the opening'closed, the valve' having a camshaped. portion and the toggle lever having a projection to engage said cam whereby when the pressure in the tank has reached a connecting of the pressure producing device l with the engine.

In testimony whereof We hereunto affix our signatures in nesses.

ALEXANDER WNTON, HAROLD B. ANDERSON. Witnesses:

WALLACE KENNYON, L. A. MRRIHEW.

the presence "of two Wit- 20. 

